Sunderland midfielder Teemu Tainio has urged his team-mates maintain the standards they set at Bolton to end any fears of being dragged back into the relegation fight.
The Black Cats turned in a much-improved display at the Reebok Stadium on Saturday to return with a 0-0 draw and a point which eased them further clear of the bottom three. However, Newcastle's 3-1 derby victory over Middlesbrough means the Wearsiders are only two points better off than the Magpies and Hull, who dropped into the relegation zone as a result.
With Ricky Sbragia's men not playing until Monday evening at Portsmouth, wins for Alan Shearer's side at home to Fulham and the Tigers at Bolton would see Sunderland slip back into the bottom three with just two games to play.
But Tainio is convinced they will have few problems if they play against Pompey and at home to Chelsea as they did at Bolton.
He told the club's official website: "We can build on that and we still have two games to prove that we belong in this league.
"We played well, especially in the first half - that's sort of attitude we need for the remaining two games."
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I hope we don't finish 1 point behind the unclean and relegated.
Especially when the cheating diving scumbag Taylor robbed us of all the points
at Sid James Allotment earlier in the season.
Welcome to The Annual Trapdoor Dance, a favourite attraction at SOL every season end. Let's all hope Tainio gets the message through, that there's still a lot to do if we want to be an EPL side next term. We all know that the players attitude in a lot of games has been a major reason for being in this position.
Get them told Tinio and you keep up the same standards too and lets see you get on the score sheet that would be a massive bonus
TeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeMoooooooooooooooooo ooooo!
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